Who could forget this bloke?

[MickBrett]

Dixon's Ice Cream

They never sold anything fancy like the other van's that came around.
Nothing air whipped
No fancy music either, he stuck his arm out the van window and rang a big hand bell.

Great Ice Cream.

Maybe I should have put this in the Forgotten Corners thread....

[Stanley]

Is that Tom? He looks too thin. I'll look something up and post it in forgotten corners for your benefit Mick.

[MickBrett]

Is that Tom? He looks too thin. I'll look something up and post it in forgotten corners for your benefit Mick.

Not sure, Stanley. It was always the Ice Cream it's self I was interested in

Here's an older pic of the Dixons setup.

[Stanley]

Tom's pub, The Hole in the Wall being demolished in January 2010.
Such a good well-built building· I couldn't understand why it was demolished.

[Big Kev]

Tom's pub, The Hole in the Wall being demolished in January 2010.
Such a good well-built building· I couldn't understand why it was demolished.

It had stood empty for 3 years, a developer's ideal site. A lot more money to be made from multiple houses.

[Stanley]

Thanks Kev.
Mick, have you read forgotten corners?

[MickBrett]

Thanks Kev.
Mick, have you read forgotten corners?

Absolutely.
In fact I read that piece of yours shortly after rejoining OGFB and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The decline of the pubs is sad. A great institution slipping away.
More and more we are becoming isolated from each other, in my opinion.
Covid has added a lot of fuel to that particular fire but the rot had well and truly set in before that.

[Stanley]

You're right Mick. Rather than have a pleasant drink with mates many just go to the supermarket and get a six pack.... No wonder so many pubs have closed. Add that to the banks and other local services that have all gone now and we are missing hundreds of opportunities to say hello. That's one reason why I have a walk onto the Square or a sit opposite the bookies every day. Amazing how many people I see who I know and just as important they see me.

[Tripps]

just go to the supermarket and get a six pack

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a six pack of beer is 'a thing' in this country. I think the usual packaging for beer is a four pack.
I guess it's an Americanism - actually more heard in connection with body building now?

[MickBrett]

That's one reason why I have a walk onto the Square or a sit opposite the bookies every day.

Ahhh, so this is the famous "bookie watch" I keep hearing you mention.
Your bench will be around where the old railway station used to be then, maybe a bit to the left if looking from the bookies.



The bookies are where the old Post Office was, the Post office coat of arms and date I see are still there.

Also, Fern Lea used to end around there, the road turning sharply to the left.

I'll catch up eventually...

[Stanley]

David, just a figure of speech I think. Many beers are packed as ten packs.
Mick, that's right, just to the right of the old station buildings and the War Memorial is where the crossing was.



Ian's pic shows it, the benches for bookie watch are to the right of the memorial and the old railway sidings are now The Green in the foreground.